"Spain, Belgium and Hungary are teaming together for their combined 18-months running of the European Union presidency. This is provided for in the bloc’s Lisbon reform Treaty, in a transition phase before the country-by-country rotational system is replaced by a person, who will hold the office for two and a half years, renewable once. The treaty is set to enter force only if the Czech Republic finalizes its ratification." http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/29/spain-belgium-hungary-eu-presidency-team/
Cameron's 'never again' vow on EU
"David Cameron has said 'never again' to powers being transferred from the UK to Brussels without a referendum. He said all future treaties would be put to a public vote as he outlined his new European policy after ruling out a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. He also promised a sovereignty bill if the Tories win the next election to 'lock in' the supremacy of UK laws." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8343022.stm
Border deal boosts Croatia EU bid
"Slovenia and Croatia have signed a deal to allow international arbitrators to resolve a border dispute that has delayed Croatia's EU membership bid. The agreement, signed in Sweden, means Slovenia will no longer block Croatia's bid. Croatia hopes to become the 28th EU member state by 2011. The dispute over the small Bay of Piran in the Adriatic Sea dates back to the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991. The deal still requires the approval of the two countries' parliaments. Both governments say they will abide by the decision of independent experts."
"Italian police say they have arrested two more suspected mafia bosses, a day after seizing their brother in a raid near the southern city of Naples..." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8336707.stm
'I am not a Nazi,' National Party leader says on BBC
"LONDON, England (CNN) -- British National Party leader Nicholas Griffin denied Thursday in a controversial appearance on a popular BBC television program that he is a Nazi. 'I am not a Nazi, I never have been,' the far-right political leader said on 'Question Time' after describing himself as the son of a member of the Royal Air Force who fought during World War II. He said the father of Labour Party leader Jack Straw, who also appeared on the program, had spent the war years in prison for refusing to fight Adolf Hitler.Griffin's comments came after Straw had drawn parallels between the BNP and the Nazi Party, which he described as 'a party and an ideology based on race, just like another party represented here today.'" http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/22/griffin.bnp.bbc.question.time/index.html
French Red Cross worker abducted in Darfur
"Several armed men Thursday abducted a French national working for the Red Cross in Sudan's volatile Darfur region, the agency said. Gauthier Lefevre, a staffer for the International Committee of the Red Cross, was taken near the town of Al Geneina in West Darfur, close to the border with Chad, the Red Cross said." http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/10/22/sudan.darfur.abduction/index.html
Spain, Belgium, Hungary EU Presidency Team
"Spain, Belgium and Hungary are teaming together for their combined 18-months running of the European Union presidency. This is provided for in the bloc’s Lisbon reform Treaty, in a transition phase before the country-by-country rotational system is replaced by a person, who will hold the office for two and a half years, renewable once. The treaty is set to enter force only if the Czech Republic finalizes its ratification."http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/29/spain-belgium-hungary-eu-presidency-team/
Cameron's 'never again' vow on EU
"David Cameron has said 'never again' to powers being transferred from the UK to Brussels without a referendum. He said all future treaties would be put to a public vote as he outlined his new European policy after ruling out a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. He also promised a sovereignty bill if the Tories win the next election to 'lock in' the supremacy of UK laws."http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8343022.stm
Border deal boosts Croatia EU bid
"Slovenia and Croatia have signed a deal to allow international arbitrators to resolve a border dispute that has delayed Croatia's EU membership bid. The agreement, signed in Sweden, means Slovenia will no longer block Croatia's bid. Croatia hopes to become the 28th EU member state by 2011. The dispute over the small Bay of Piran in the Adriatic Sea dates back to the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991. The deal still requires the approval of the two countries' parliaments. Both governments say they will abide by the decision of independent experts."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8342733.stmItaly Raid Nets Two Mafia Bosses
"Italian police say they have arrested two more suspected mafia bosses, a day after seizing their brother in a raid near the southern city of Naples..."http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8336707.stm
'I am not a Nazi,' National Party leader says on BBC
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/22/griffin.bnp.bbc.question.time/index.html
French Red Cross worker abducted in Darfur
"Several armed men Thursday abducted a French national working for the Red Cross in Sudan's volatile Darfur region, the agency said. Gauthier Lefevre, a staffer for the International Committee of the Red Cross, was taken near the town of Al Geneina in West Darfur, close to the border with Chad, the Red Cross said."http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/10/22/sudan.darfur.abduction/index.html